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Key takeaways
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−5%
A two-way match winner at 1.90/1.90 costs about $5 per $100 staked on average.
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−10%
A two-way prop at 1.80/1.80 costs about $10 per $100: double the price of the match bet.
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Feed
Props are settled from official data. Check each bookmaker's rules for how it settles remakes, pauses and abandoned maps.
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Delay
In-play props close quickly. Your stream is behind the data feed, so you are often betting on the past.
What are esports prop bets?
A prop (proposition) bet is a wager on a specific event within a match. Common esports props:
Common props by game
| Game | Typical props |
|---|---|
| CS2 | Pistol-round winner, total rounds on a map, first to 5 rounds, player kills |
| Valorant | Pistol rounds, total rounds, first blood, player kills |
| League of Legends | First blood, first tower, first dragon or Baron, total kills, game duration |
| Dota 2 | First blood, first Roshan, total kills, game duration |
Our game pages list the markets each bookmaker offers: see CS2 betting, League of Legends betting and Dota 2 betting.
What props cost compared with match bets
Example margins on two-way markets
Props usually cost more. On these example prices, a total-kills bet costs twice as much on average as a match-winner bet.
| Market (example) | Odds | Margin | Average cost per $100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match winner | 1.90 / 1.90 | 5.3% | $5.00 |
| First blood | 1.83 / 1.83 | 9.3% | $8.50 |
| Total kills over/under | 1.80 / 1.80 | 11.1% | $10.00 |
Worked example: cost = 1 − odds × 50% for an even two-way market. Example odds; real margins vary by bookmaker and match.
Why props are more volatile
A match result is decided over many rounds or minutes. A prop can be decided by one moment: one pistol round, one early skirmish, one disconnect. That raises the variance of each bet. It also means a bad run of results is more likely even if your reads are good, so stakes on props should be smaller than on match bets.
Props on individual players carry an extra risk: if a player is replaced, the bookmaker's rules decide whether the bet is void or stands. Read them before betting.
Data feeds, latency and integrity
Props depend on official data feeds that send in-game events to bookmakers in near real time. The feed is usually faster than the public stream, which is why in-play prop markets close or suspend when something happens. If you bet from a stream, you are seeing the game later than the bookmaker.
Small, specific markets are also the easiest to manipulate, because one player can influence them. Integrity bodies such as the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC) work with betting operators to flag unusual betting patterns, and bookmakers may suspend or void affected markets.
Terms used in this guide
- Prop bet
- A bet on an event inside a match rather than on the result. So what: Usually priced with a higher margin than the match winner.
- First blood
- The first kill of a map or game. So what: Decided by a single moment, so very volatile.
- Data feed
- The official stream of in-game events bookmakers use to price and settle markets. So what: It runs ahead of the video stream you watch.
Esports prop bets: common questions
What are prop bets in esports?
Bets on specific in-game events such as first blood, pistol rounds, total kills or a player's kill count, instead of on the match result.
Are prop bets worse value than match bets?
Often. Their margins tend to be higher; in our example a 1.80/1.80 prop costs $10 per $100 on average against $5 for a 1.90/1.90 match bet.
Why are esports props so volatile?
One round, one fight or one disconnect can decide them, so results swing more than on match bets.
What happens to a player prop if the player doesn't play?
It depends on the bookmaker's rules. Many void the bet; some let it stand. Check before you bet.
Can I bet props live?
Yes, many bookmakers offer in-play props, but they suspend often, and your stream is behind the official data feed.
